Halloween is just around the bend, and soon we’ll be setting our clocks back and presenting more dark hours for those “things that go bump in the night.” If you enjoy the thrill of a good scary story, our staff are sharing their recommendations. Some are terrifying, some are funny, some are quirky. There’s a little Halloween something for everyone here. If the “BOO” fits….

Note: These suggestions are for adult/mature readers, with the exception of one (The Skull), which is a children’s title, but fun for adults to read, too!

As Above, So Below  [DVD], Universal Studios Canada (2014): “This is one of my favorite go-to movies. It’s not exactly a comforting film, but it is MY comfort film. I’m not sure why it feels nostalgic, but it is one that will always get a couple jumps out of me — something that has become increasingly rare for me in new horror movies. I chose this movie because I think it’s an easy watch for people who want to dip their toes into horror. I, personally, love showing this movie for movie nights with my friends who have and haven’t already watched it. I think it does a really good job of keeping you entertained whether it’s new to you or not.” –Karla

Creepy Classics: Halloween’s Greatest Hits [Hoopla music], Decca Label Group (2011) / Halloween Nights: Spooky Sounds & Scary Movie Soundtracks [Hoopla music], Green Hill Productions (2022):  “If you’ve seen any of the classic horror films, you know how quickly just the opening notes of a haunting piece of music or any of the great horror theme songs can give you instant goosebumps. Stream some classical pieces with eerie underpinnings, or  a collection of sounds and movie/TV themes to create a little atmosphere.” –Shauna

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne (2024): “What’s scarier, a family vacation or a haunted villa?  Diavola is a fresh take on a haunting, with great internal dialogue and characters we love to hate.” –Sarah

Different Seasons by Stephen King (1982): “I spent my younger years reading all of Stephen King’s horror. His ear for dialogue and his ability to make the most everyday, mundane things terrifying has always made his books fun to read. This collection of four novellas–arranged with one novella for each of the four seasons–not typical King horror, is an all-time favorite. It’s a bit different in that the stories aren’t really “monster-” or fully “evil-scary” like a lot of his work. The two I like the most are sad, or poignant, or more about the everyday horrors humans face and survive (or not) at the hands of one another. Those two stories, “The Body” and “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” were adapted to very good films: Stand By Me, 1986 and The Shawshank Redemption, 1994–two more bonus recommendations! Even King, notoriously disdainful of nearly every attempt (and there have been many, many attempts) to adapt his works to movies or TV, was very moved by Stand By Me, saying it was the first adaptation he considered great.” –Shauna

Edgar Allen Poe’s Tales of Death and Dementia by Edgar Allen Poe (1847): “You can never go wrong with a creepily illustrated collection of Poe’s greatest macabre tales!” –Asbed

The Exorcist [DVD], Warner Bros. Pictures (1973): “I recommend watching this movie alone and in the wee hours of night—like 3am. The original Exorcist movie is the only movie that has the ability to give me goosebumps and cause my imagination to go haywire. You can guess from the title that it’s about demonic possession. It’s inspired by true events and that’s what makes it so scary! Watch it! The power of this blog compels you!” –Young

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum [Hoopla video], Well Go USA (2018) / The Blair Witch Project [DVD], Haxan Films (1999): “If you enjoyed As Above So Below (2014), you may also like… Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum. This is another one of my favorite found-footage type movies. And if you enjoyed both movies, try out The Blair Witch Project .” –Karla

 

Kaiju No. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto (2020-) / Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu (2022-): “Kaiju No. 8 is an action-packed manga series about fighting monsters! Popular anime which just finished airing recently! Dandadan is a goofy spooky manga (rated ‘M for Mature’) that just got an adaptation for an anime. Involves ghosts, aliens, possessions, and every other weird thing you can imagine!” –Asbed

Last Night in SoHo [DVD], Universal Picture, Focus Features (2021) : “I enjoy this movie, because it makes you feel as unsettled and confused as the main character, and that feeling is enhanced through the movie’s lighting, camera angles and music.  It is more character-driven than plot driven, but that is what makes it succeed as a thriller. If the movie was only interested in cheap thrills and unnecessary jump scares or violence, then the ending wouldn’t be as satisfying as it is.”  –Chloe

Lilith’s Brood or Xenogenesis trilogy by Octavia E. Butler (Dawn, Adulthood Rites and Imago) (1987-1989): “Following a series of apocalyptic events including wars and climate change that have rendered Earth almost totally uninhabitable, an alien species called the Oankali lands on Earth and begins “saving” the last remaining humans. They promise the humans longer life, stronger health, and the opportunity to be part of a new, more scientifically advanced civilization. They seem to want the humans to be a part of their culture, and want to interbreed, to “trade” genetic and cultural resources. That sounds nice enough, except that the Oankali have grotesque bodies covered with slimy tentacles used for everything from touching to injecting chemicals or neurotransmitters that can change how you think or feel. And this is not a free trade: the rescued humans must forfeit their freedom to their rescuers, and even lose their ability to have natural human offspring. What does this mean for humanity? And is there any way out for the humans ensnared by their seemingly benevolent captors? (Tip: Read the essay on vampirism in Xenogenesis written by Dr. Kendra R. Parker The Bloomsbury Handbook to Octavia E. Butler, for a compelling insight into Butler’s Oankali as vampires!)” –AnnMarie

Nerdy Prudes Must Die [YouTube series], StarKid Productions, LLC (2023) “(Not technically in our collection, but available for free on YouTube) A Horror-Comedy musical about a group of teens who accidentally kill their high school bully, but said bully then comes back as a ghost to try to kill them one by one. It has eldritch horror elements to it, but also humor and romance. It is not too scary, but does have some mature themes,  so is not appropriate for younger audiences. It is the third musical in a series, (All of which can be found on the same YouTube page)  but I thought this one seemed best for Halloween/can still be appreciated as a stand-alone. I enjoy it because I love musicals, but also because it presents horror in a way that is more palatable and interesting than movies where the primary goal is to be scary and gory, but where the plot is otherwise pretty thin. I suppose I can see the value in stories like that, but those aren’t for me.” –Chloe

Shaun of the Dead [DVD], Universal Pictures (2004): “When requesting staff picks, I cited this film as an example of more funny/less scary; it’s a hilarious send-up of zombie horror;  it keeps you rooting (tensely) for our heroes to survive, all while you guffaw with laughter. Meanwhile, two other staff have so far stated ‘I love Shaun of the Dead!’ So if you’ve never seen this movie, or if you haven’t watched it in a while and need to LOL where you’d otherwise scream, watch it again. It’s a triple (so far) staff pick!” –Shauna

The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale [Picture Book] by Jon Klassen (2023): “I recommend this book for reading aloud to kids. The chapters are short, the story is spooky but not scary, and the illustrations are great.” –Tim

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth  by Andrew Joseph White (2023): “White’s sophomore novel is an excellent historical paranormal full of ghosts, gore and monsters of both the human and supernatural varieties!” — Chelsie

 

Other Staff  Picks:

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow [DVD], Paramount Pictures Corp. (1999)

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown [DVD], Charles M. Schultz Creative Associates (1966)

Coraline [DVD], Universal Pictures (2009)

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles [DVD] (1994)